| **Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| After Tax Special Charges Associated With Restructuring Actions To Realign Activities | $ 75           | $ 66            | $ 27 | $ 29 | $ 71 | $ 21 | $ 29 |   |
| After Tax Special Charges For Intangible Asset Impairment Charges                     | 11             | 15              |   |   | 31 |   |   |   |
| Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions                                  | 46             |            |   |   |   |   |   | 46 |
| After Tax Accounts Receivable Allowance Charges For Collection Risk                   |           |            |   |   | 38 |   |   |   |
| Licensing Agreements [Member]                                                         |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| After-tax loss contingency expense                                                    |           |            |   | 25 |   |   |   |   |
| Field Action Cost IESD [Member]                                                       |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| After-tax loss contingency expense                                                    | $ 27           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
After tax accounts receivable allowance charges for collection risk.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**stj_AfterTaxAccountsReceivableAllowanceChargesForCollectionRisk**Namespace Prefix:**stj_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The after-tax amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**stj_AfterTaxLossContingencyExpense**Namespace Prefix:**stj_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
After Tax Special Charges Associated With Restructuring Actions To Realign Activities
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**stj_AfterTaxSpecialChargesAssociatedWithRestructuringActionsToRealignActivities**Namespace Prefix:**stj_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
After tax special charges for intangible asset impairment charges.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**stj_AfterTaxSpecialChargesForIntangibleAssetImpairmentCharges**Namespace Prefix:**stj_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reflects the effects of adjustments of previously recorded tax expense, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, IRS tax settlement and unusual repatriation of foreign earnings.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 48 -Paragraph 10A, 10B, 10C -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 48 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |